If you have ever been around children much, it won't come as a shock to you that they watch us all of the time, even when we may be unaware of it. They watch our every move, and they listen intently to every nuance as well as every word we speak. They pay attention to our tone, and they learn how to communicate with others by watching and learning from us, the adults in their lives.

They also learn from the messages that come to them through television and other media. They are like sponges, absorbing everything that comes their way.

Having said that, I felt the need to remind us all that our children are also watching us for cues to see what is what isn't acceptable.

As I offered in the video message for today, words have power and ideas matter. The specific message for the day is this: "Things are ideas in form. What else could they be? There is nothing from which to make things except ideas." ~ Dr. Ernest Holmes

From those ideas come words, and words help create the norms of our society...they are the basis for the way we treat one another.

Remember the old schoolyard saying, "Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me?" We all know that isn't true, don't we? Words have power and they can be extremely hurtful.

Our children are listening, and they are watching. They are all paying attention.

Until next time.

Photo by Shutterstock.

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